Switch



NOV. 19, 1929. C WAKELAND 1,736,683

SWITCH I Filed Dec. 1927 Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE SWITCH Application filed December 10, 1927. Serial No. 239,058.

The present invention is directed to improvements in switches.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a switch for use inconnection with mine locomotives wherein electrical energy for operatingthe locomotive is furnished from a trolley wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterso constructed that the switch will operate in a positive manner whetherthe current is collected from its trolley wheel or reeled cable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch for this purposewhich has its working parts efl'ectively encased to prevent persons fromcoming in contact therewith and to also protect the working partsagainst injury.

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in thenovel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangementof parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side view of a mine locomotive showing the switch in placethereon.

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of thedevice.

The switch parts are confined in a casing 1 adapted to be secured to thelocomotive 2, the latter having, as customary, in devices of thischaracter, a trolley pole 3, wheels 3 and cable reel 4.

The top closure 5 of the casing carries outer insulating sleeves 6 and 7and an intermediate insulating sleeve 8. The top of the casing hasengaged therewith a sheet of insulating material 9 and the sides thereofhave engaged therewith linings 10-1O of similar material, the respectiveinsulating sleeves extending through the sheet 9, as clearly shown inFigure 2 of the drawing.

Extended in the casing 1 are magnets 11 and 12 which are groundedthrough the wires 13 leading from the magnets.

Supported by the linings 10-10 are horizontally disposed bolts 111twhich engage the slots 1515 of the hangers 16 and 17,

there being coil springs 18 encircling the colts to urge the'hangerstoward. each other, said hangers having contact heads 19 and 20 upon 6their lower ends. The hangers 16 and 17 are in circuit with the magnets11 and 12 through wires 21 and 22, and 21 and 22, the wire 21 leading tothe trolley wheel 3'.

The horizontallydisposed partition 24 of suitable material is supportedwithin the casing 1 and has an opening 25 formed therein and in which ispivotally mounted the head 26, said head having the oppositely extendingarmature arms 27 and 28 carried thereby which are alternately attractedby the magnets when the latter are energized. Supported by the arms 27and 28 is a bracket 29 which has a roller contact 30 upon its lower endfor alternate engagement with the contact heads 19 and 20, said bracketshaving leading from the arms 31 thereof circuit wires 32 which areconnected to the conductor 33 which passes through the sleeve 8 to thecon troller box 3 1 of the locomotive.

VVindable upon the reel 4 as customary is a conducting cable 35, havinga hook 36 carried by its terminal for engagement with the trolley wire37, said cable being in circuit with the wire 22.

The cable, as usual, is for the purpose of collecting current from thetrolley wire 37 when the locomotive has moved to a position wherein thetrolley wheel 3 leaves the trolley wire.

The casing 1 has a quantity of oil 38 therein which prevents sparkingand fusing when the contact roller 30 disengages the heads 19 and 20.

As shown in the drawing, the trolley wheel 3 is engaged with the wire 37and at which time the armature arm 27 would be attracted by the magnet11. However, when the locomotive reaches a point wherein the trolleywheel will not reach the wire 37 the pole 3 is lowered and hooked insuch position, thus deenergizing the magnet 11. The hook 36 is thenengaged with the trolley wire 37 as indicated in dotted lines in Figure1 to energize the magnet 12 which will attract the arm 28, thus throwingthe bracket 29 in a direction to cause the roller 30 to engage the head20. Of course when the cable 35 is disengaged from tlae trolley wire andthe wheel 31 again engaged therewith, the magnet 12 will be deenergizedand the magnet 11 energized, thereby attracting the arm 27 and movingthe roller 30 to engage the contact head 19, thus completing the circuitfor normal operation.

Owing to the presence of the springs 18 the shoclrincident to thecontacts "striking the head 19 or 20 will be absorbed and injury theretothus prevented.

Since the switch mechanism is enclosed lI1{ a metallic casing l injurythereto is prevented.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A switch for the purpose specified com-. prising a casing, ahorizontal partition in-the casing, head pivotally connected with thepartition; oppositely extending armature arms carried bythe head; abracket depend ingrfromr the head and :having a roller contact carried.thereby, magnets mounted in the casing, bolts carried bythe casing,hangs ers pivotally connected in the casing and slidably and yieldablyengaged with the bolts,'contact 'heads' carried by the hangers foralternate engagement with the roller contact, and springs engaged on thebolts for urging the hangers toward each other, as and for the purposeset forth.-

2. Aiswitch for the-purpose specified comprising a casingya horizontalpartition in the casing, a head 'pivotally'connected with the partition;oppositely extending armature arms carried by the head-,a bracket depending from the head and having a roller contact carried thereby, magnetsmounted in the casing, hangers pivotally supported by the partition",contact heads carried by the hangers and disposed'upon opposite sides ofthe bracket for alternate contact with the roller contact when themagnets are alternately en'- ergized and deenergized, and springsconnected with the casing and'engaging the hangers tourge the sametoward each other. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLAUDE S.. WAKELAND. [1,. sl

